Electronic mail priority alert service
First Claim
1. A method of alerting a recipient of e-mail messages, comprising:
- identifying a recipient of a given plurality of received e-mail messages;
determining a telephone number for said recipient; and
initiating contact with said recipient using said determined telephone number for said recipient of said received plurality of e-mail messages to alert said recipient that said given plurality of e-mail messages have been received, only after said given plurality of e-mail messages have been received for said identified recipient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a new feature for e-mail services which provides a telephone call alert to a particular e-mail user when their e-mail server, web page e-mail server, or other e-mail receiving server receives new e-mail addressed to them. One or more designated telephone number (or numbers) are automatically called by an auto dialer at the e-mail server in response to the receipt of particularly identified high priority e-mail senders (e.g., from clients, from family, etc.). The particular designated telephone number(s) to call for a particular user are configured in a priority alert profile for that particular user, as are the possibility to limit the activation of the telephone call alert system to electronic messages received only from a select list of senders, and/or after a predetermined number of electronic messages have been received.
90 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of alerting a recipient of e-mail messages, comprising:
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identifying a recipient of a given plurality of received e-mail messages;
determining a telephone number for said recipient; and
initiating contact with said recipient using said determined telephone number for said recipient of said received plurality of e-mail messages to alert said recipient that said given plurality of e-mail messages have been received, only after said given plurality of e-mail messages have been received for said identified recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
said contact is intiated by automatically dialing said telephone number without requiring user intervention.
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3. The method of alerting a recipient of e-mail messages according to claim 2, further comprising:
playing a message relating to a number of e-mail messages received, if said automatic dialing successfully establishes a telephone call.
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4. The method of alerting a recipient of e-mail messages according to claim 1, further comprising:
re-attempting contact using an alternate telephone number for said recipient of said received electronic messages if said initiated contact is unsuccessful in establishing a telephone call.
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5. The method of alerting a recipient of e-mail messages according to claim 4, wherein:
said steps of initiating contact and re-attempting contact comprise automatic dialing without requiring user intervention.
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6. Apparatus for alerting a recipient of e-mail messages, comprising:
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means for identifying a recipient of a given plurality of received e-mail messages;
means for determining a telephone number for said recipient; and
means for using said telephone number to initiate contact with said recipient of said received plurality of e-mail messages to alert said recipient that said given plurality of e-mail messages have been received, only after said given plurality of e-mail messages have been received for said identified recipient. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
said means for using said telephone number to initiate contact automatically dials said telephone number without requiring user intervention.
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8. The apparatus for alerting a recipient of e-mail messages according to claim 7, further comprising:
means for playing a message relating to receipt of said e-mail messages if said means for using said telephone number to initiate contact successfully establishes a telephone call.
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9. The apparatus for alerting a recipient of e-mail messages according to claim 6, further comprising:
means for re-attempting contact using an alternate telephone number for said recipient of said received e-mail messages if said means for initiating contact is unsuccessful in establishing a telephone call.
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10. The apparatus for alerting a recipient of e-mail messages according to claim 9, wherein:
said means for initiating contact and said means for re-attempting contact operate automatically without requiring user intervention.
Specification